Be comfortable and dry

Okay, let’s be completely grounded for a moment here. No matter how pretty March sometimes gets in Dublin, rain can realistically happen at any given moment.

So don’t be naive and think, ‘Well, it was sunny today so surely tomorrow will be the same’. Make your life a bit easier and prepare for the fact that no weather forecast is definite in Ireland. Get yourself some comfortable shoes and a jacket that can keep you somewhat protected from rain and wind.

And if it can’t, you can always look for your shield in the nearest pub.

Stay on the legal side

Time to be a party breaker here real quick.

Please, please, please know that it’s illegal to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol in Ireland if you are under 18 years of age. If you’re over that age, it’s also illegal to buy alcohol for those who aren’t.

Don’t put yourself into trouble, and most importantly, don’t endanger your own or anyone else’s safety. Saint Patrick’s is awesome – don’t ruin it for yourself or anyone else!

And while we’re here, I’ll add something I want to scream off the top of my lungs: having a few drinks is cool. Having 25 drinks and turning into an obnoxious jerk is not. Don’t be a jerk.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it’s forbidden to drink publicly in Ireland. It doesn’t mean that people don’t do it, but at least you’re warned 🙂

Know how to get your drinks

Now that we have that covered, let me suggest that you buy your drinks a day ahead if day drinking is your thing. You most definitely can’t purchase alcohol on Saint Patrick’s until 12.30 pm, but many places (including pubs!) actually won’t sell you alcohol until 4 pm.

This is an agreement made in order to keep the parade safe and family-friendly. So if you do want to drink before that time, get all the necessities in time!

Making the most

Now that I have you all prepared, it’s time for the good stuff.

Get ready for the Parade

Okay, onto the real deal. If you’re visiting Dublin in this festive time because of the St. Patrick’s Festival Parade, you’re in for a treat!

The parade starts at 12 pm from Parnell Square in Dublin 1, which is a narrow city center area. The theme for 2017 is ‘Ireland you are…’. It has never been anything less than spectacular!

If you’re hoping to get up close to the parade, make sure to be there as early as you can (in 2015, we got there about an hour ahead, but give yourself even more time) to secure your spot.

Remember to be kind to people around you, and enjoy!

Beware of the crowds

This is not a drill: Temple Bar is just slightly unbearable on Saint Patrick’s (and same goes for the surrounding areas).

Don’t get me wrong. I still love it. I love the vibe and I oh-so-love the people.

But it is next to impossible to just walk into Temple Bar and, you know, walk. There are just SO many people there, and there’s nothing casual about this experience. If you want to get to any bar to get a drink, consider yourself warned. Don’t count on sitting either.

For me, Temple Bar is something I want to see on Saint Patrick’s, but don’t necessarily want to focus my day on! Last year, after checking it out briefly, we got comfortable in the Beer Market on Merchant’s Quay (with seats and all!) and spent the evening there. Highly recommended, with a great vibe and delicious Galway Bay beers!

And with that being said…

Amazing things happen across the city

As much as I love everything above mentioned for it being great and green and loud, there is so much more to Saint Patrick’s in Dublin than just the parade and infinite drinking.

Across many areas, such as the wider city center, libraries across town, Howth, Blanchardstown, Swords, and many other Dublin spots, there is something for pretty much anyone, including food, music, tours, and even mystery trips!

I’ll definitely be visiting the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival in Howth (I’m where the food is!). Check out the schedule for all four days for 2017 here!

See the buildings turn green

And when the day is over, and you’ve had (more than) enough to drink, do yourself a huge favor and go for a walk in the wider city center.

The iconic buildings, some street lights, and night city views turn completely green! Words are kind of redundant here – just looking at these photos makes me so happy.

St Patrick’s Day in Ireland would be a blast!! Funny that most won’t serve alcohol until 4:30 though! I’ve never really celebrated St Patrick’s Day in Canada, but maybe I would be convinced to do so in Ireland!